Photo: Gov Bassey Otu
By: Mandy Park
Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu, has announced the resumption of bursary payments for students of the state studying in tertiary institutions, alongside the introduction of special grants for medical students.
The governor said the initiative forms part of his administration’s renewed commitment to education, human capital development and the future growth of the state.
Otu made the announcement on Thursday during the State Executive Council meeting held in Calabar, where he outlined the next phase of his administration’s governance agenda, political engagement and developmental priorities.
Speaking on the need to invest in young people, the governor stressed that no indigene of the state should abandon academic pursuits because of financial hardship, noting that the bursary scheme was being revived after more than a decade of inactivity.
“In line with our commitment to invest in the future of Cross River State, I am pleased to announce that my administration will resume the payment of bursaries to Cross River students in tertiary institutions in the coming months,” Otu stated.
He added that the government would also introduce special grants for medical students to support their training and reduce the financial burden associated with medical education.
“This intervention had not happened in over a decade. It is our way of reaffirming that education remains a top priority, and that no Cross River student should be forced to abandon their dreams due to financial constraints,” he said.
The announcement was one of the major highlights of the council meeting, during which the governor also unveiled plans to strengthen critical sectors such as health, education and power.
Otu acknowledged that while his administration had recorded notable achievements since assuming office in May 2023, there was still a need for renewed commitment in some sectors.
“I must acknowledge the fact that we may not have performed to the level of our expectation in some sectors. As a result, we shall renew our energies and attention to new areas of focus, namely health, education and power, among others,” he said.
The governor also commended members of the State Executive Council for their dedication and resilience, while specially appreciating the Deputy Governor, Peter Odey, for providing leadership and stability during his period of absence.
Otu further disclosed that one of his administration’s key priorities remained the recovery of the state’s oil wells, describing the process as strategic and vital to the economic future of Cross River.
According to him, the struggle to reclaim the oil wells required sustained engagement and consultations at the federal level.
“It is a spirited struggle against already established odds and we are confronting wounded lions, not mere galloping antelopes, but I can confidently assure you that at the end of the negotiations and resolution of the issues concerned,
Cross River State will have cause to smile again as an oil-bearing state in Nigeria,” he stated.
As political activities begin to gather momentum across the country ahead of the 2027 elections, the governor directed commissioners and heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies to submit comprehensive scorecards of their stewardship to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government ahead of the administration’s third anniversary.
He expressed dissatisfaction that only three MDAs had complied with the directive.
The governor also announced plans to embark on the inspection and commissioning of projects across the 18 local government areas of the state, while unveiling fresh development blueprints and groundbreaking projects in underserved communities.
He urged political appointees and members of the Executive Council to strengthen grassroots engagement through consultations, home visits and direct interaction with citizens.
On the controversial recruitment exercise into the Unified Local Government Service, Otu reiterated his administration’s zero tolerance for abuse of due process and misconduct in public service.
He recalled that the government had dissolved the leadership of the commission following widespread complaints and public outrage over the recruitment process and subsequently constituted a five-member panel of inquiry to investigate the matter.
According to the governor, the panel has been mandated to review the procedures surrounding the recruitment exercise, audit payroll structures across the 18 local government areas and recommend disciplinary actions where necessary.
“Government therefore intends to be very hard on anyone found guilty in the mess that occurred in the Local Government Service Commission. This threw a pall of dark light on our administration by collecting monies from unemployed young Cross Riverians against our People First philosophy,” he said.
The governor also charged members of the Executive Council to remain disciplined and committed to balancing governance responsibilities with political activities.
In an emotional moment during the meeting, Otu mourned students of University of Cross River State who recently lost their lives in a tragic accident.
“My heart goes out to the families, friends and the entire University of Cross River State community over the tragic and untimely death of our students,” he said.
The governor further announced that the state government would take full responsibility for the hospital bills of injured students and provide support packages to the families of the deceased.
“As a government that values the lives of our young people, we will take full responsibility for the hospital bills of all students affected by this accident. No family should bear the financial burden of this tragedy,” he assured.
